History and foundation
Lelić is the foundation of St Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović and his father Dragomir in the bishop's native village near Valjevo. The Church of St Nicholas was built in 1929. Unlike many monasteries on our routes, its story begins in more recent Serbian history.
Art and sacred heritage
Bishop Nikolaj's relics were transferred from the United States to Serbia in 1991. According to the Diocese of Valjevo's account, the church became a monastery in 1996. Nikolaj spent his final years in America; Lelić preserves his foundation and is a place of veneration of his relics.
What to notice on a visit
A visit introduces one of Serbia's best-known 20th-century religious writers. We connect its story with nearby Ćelije and St Justin while distinguishing their individual lives. Time outside and inside the church allows space for historical questions as well as personal prayer.
Visiting respectfully
A monastery is a place of prayer and daily monastic life. Wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees, speak quietly and follow the hosts' instructions. Ask permission before photographing interiors or people. Access to individual areas and the course of the visit depend on services and the monastery's rules on the day. Always ask your guide Božidar what is permitted and where; he will explain the monastery's rules.
Sources and further reading
This visitor introduction distinguishes traditional accounts from reliably documented history.